No shoot-out ought to finish 3-2 after 14 penalties. In Thursday’s Ladies’s Euro 2025 quarter-final between England and Sweden in Zurich, each groups struck out with three spot kicks in a row at one level in a baffling tie-breaker.
England ultimately triumphed when a limping Lucy Bronze smashed her penalty proper up the intestine and into the roof of Jennifer Falk’s internet. Smilla Holmberg couldn’t comply with swimsuit and the quarter-final, mercifully, was over.
The penalty shoot-out had every thing however constant high quality. Falk and England’s Hannah Hampton made an unusually excessive variety of saves of various issue. Falk spooned her personal kick excessive. Chloe Kelly put England again in pole place by laughing within the face of the second.
England ladies have been unconvincing however they’re nonetheless standing tall
That the tie even wanted a shoot-out was stunning in its personal proper. England began badly, conceding the sloppiest of objectives within the second minute, and deteriorated from there.
Stina Blackstenius uncovered England’s left flank in the midst of the primary half so as to add to Kosovare Asllani’s early strike and the Lionesses produced solely timidity in response.
The last-eight efficiency towards Sweden was paying homage to the opening sport towards France, who additionally took a 2-0 lead earlier than Keira Walsh obtained England again into it with a late objective.
This time, Kelly was the architect of England’s temporary however devastating resurgence simply minutes after approaching as an alternative. Bronze headed within the first and Michelle Agyemang, one other second-half substitute, pounced to equalise from shut vary two minutes later.
But it was England who needed to maintain on throughout the extra half-hour, our bodies strewn about their six-yard field bearing the scrapes and scars of battle.
Hampton was bloodied. Bronze administered her personal first help simply to get to the tip. Alex Greenwood was on the deck after a heavy fall and captain Leah Williamson went off injured. She’ll be a doubt for subsequent week’s semi-final towards Italy.
Supervisor Sarina Wiegman is chasing her third consecutive European Championship win, having lifted the trophy with the Netherlands after which England within the final two tournaments.
Zurich was a hit, however a frantic one. Wiegman’s substitutes supplied the massive moments England wanted however her beginning defenders have been no match for Sweden’s targeted attacking within the first half.
England have clawed their manner into the final 4 as a result of they refused to let their title defence fizzle out, not as a result of they’re enjoying with the swagger of champions.
After shedding to France, the phrase ‘Correct English’ began to emerge from the England camp in Switzerland, promising the mix of character and guile that produced a bunch stage efficiency towards the Netherlands that was every thing they wanted.
That was no fluke. Wiegman made sensible modifications on the again and her gamers took their probabilities on the different finish. Wales have been swept apart in sport three and England went into the knock-out stage in assured temper.
England’s chaos – a harbinger of the tip for Wiegman?
The penalty shoot-out win towards Sweden was a complete indication of every thing England shall be on this European Championship.
Wiegman’s Lionesses will struggle tooth and nail. They’re not going dwelling simply they usually’re keen to take the hits to show it. There’s each likelihood they emerge from the Italy sport, win or lose, wanting like an beginner ice hockey group.
However there shall be tactical gaps for the opposition supervisor to use. Wiegman is sharp sufficient to appropriate course however her weakening choices may very well be problematic.
England’s preparations have been overshadowed within the public eye by the worldwide retirements of Fran Kirby and Mary Earps. It was reported that Kirby had been knowledgeable she wasn’t going to be included within the squad, whereas Earps had seemingly misplaced the no.1 shirt to Hampton.
Millie Vibrant, England’s World Cup captain in Williamson’s absence in 2023, made herself unavailable for causes that can and may stay her personal. England miss her. England have been at all times going to overlook her.
In isolation, these withdrawals and retirements and accidents and errors and subpar performances may all be attributed to their particular person circumstances.
Taken collectively, they arguably level to a tragic risk: the Wiegman period is slowly unravelling in direction of its conclusion.
No matter choices have been made behind closed doorways and regardless of the Lionesses obtain in what’s turn into a turbulent however brave European Championship defence, the scent of change is within the air.
